Notorious Jazz

STACEY KENT
2024-05-21 20:30 - 2024-05-22 22:00 (Europe/Warsaw) | Jassmine, Wilcza 73, 00-670 Warsaw, Poland
Stacey Kent is a jazz singer in the mold of the greats, with a legion of fans around the world and numerous accolades and awards, including a Grammy nomination, album sales exceeding 2 million, gold and platinum albums.
Her latest release, I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions, received rave reviews including a coveted five-star rating on Downbeat, won Album of the Year in the Vocal category at the Jazz Japan 2017 Awards, and was described by All About Jazz as “an intoxicating understatement.” at its best… yet another gem in Stacey’s discography.”
Composition:
Stacey Kent – ​​voice
art Hirahara – piano
Jim Tomlinson – saxophone/flutes
Tickets In Dollars: $78.08

SUN RA ARKESTRA
2024-05-22 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Directed by Marshall Allen and celebrating Marshall’s 100th birthday!
The Sun Ra Arkestra are known for their live shows that combine big band swing, outer-space jazz, dancing, singing, chanting and Afro-pagentry.
“Besides,” Sun Ra once said, “that’s the way black people say ‘orchestra.'”
The Arkestra continue to tour the world and have performed in more than 25 countries including shows at the pyramids in Egypt and in the USSR, Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the Fillmore East, the Hollywood Bowl, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, the Newport Jazz Festival, Fuji Rock Festival, and the Kennedy Center.
During World War 11 Marshall Allen enlisted in the US Army 92nd Division Infantry and performed in the Army band. Marshall joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1955 and has been their leader since 1995. He was awarded a PEW Fellowship in 2012. Marshall continues to compose and record with the Arkestra. He tours with them when in driving distance of his home in Philadelphia and he greatly looks forward to the shows. An inner ear issue restricts his flying at this time.
In Marshalls own words: “My work is an extension of Sun Ra’s mission to provide for the spiritual healing of the planet earth.”
***Fees Apply To All Tickets

JAZZMEIA HORN
2024-05-22 20:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Bimhuis, Piet Heinkade 3 1019 BR, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jazzmeia Horn is one of the promising young musicians of the new jazz generation according to Downbeat: the leading jazz magazine listed her as one of the ’25 for the Future’. The singer from New York is not only influenced by the virtuosic vocal lines and scats of Sarah Vaughan, but also by the R&B of Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu, as well as hip-hop and spoken word. She also developed a talent for composing and arranging by collaborating with the likes of the WDR Big Band and Metropole Orchestra.
At the age of three, Jazzmeia Horn already started singing in a gospel choir. She was allowed to sing with the adults, as she was too loud for the children’s choir. Since then she has won all the important awards, including the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Vocals Competition. She has received compliments from famous colleagues such as Al Jarreau and John Hendricks. She has been compared to legendary singers such as Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, as well as to successful contemporaries such as Gregory Porter and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

LOUIS HERIVEAUX
2024-05-23 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | The Betty Supper Club, 374 East Paces Ferry Road NE , Atlanta, GA, 30305, United States
Heriveaux plays Mood Indigo, classic sounds inspired by the 1920s.
After graduating from Griffin High School in 1992, Louis settled in Atlanta, Georgia. Louis began playing Jazz on Atlanta’s Jazz scene, at age 17. Heads began to turn and fellow musicians and club owners began to take notice of his early signs of professionalism and confidence at the piano.
At age 19, a prominent Jazz guitarist began frequenting jam sessions in Atlanta, where Louis often sat in. After several visits to the jam session, it was Russell Malone that hand-picked Louis to join his world-class quartet. Louis graciously accepted the invitation and became an international Jazz musician, performing with Russell Malone for two years, on some of the most famous stages Jazz music has ever known.
Louis’ time spent with Russell Malone was a pivotal move in his budding career as a Jazz musician. That gig opened doors for other opportunities for this young, gifted musician. Jazz vocalists began to seek Louis out for his ability to accompany them with an innate ability to assess their needs during a performance and at rehearsals. Vocalist Jeanie Bryson invited Louis to do a Southeast tour with her and he once again hit the road! His finesse on the piano also caught the attention of Nnenna Freelon, who sought him out as an accompanist for one of her engagements as well.

RUSSELL MALONE QUARTET
2024-05-23 19:00 - 2024-05-26 23:59 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Russell Malone – guitar | Rick Germanson – piano | Vincent DuPont – drums | Neal Smith – drums
“Russell Malone has the storytelling skills of a great singer, perhaps a legacy of his many years with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall. – The Times (UK)
Guitar master Russell Malone leads his popular quartet with pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Vincent Dupont, and drummer Neal Smith. Malone is a musician deeply rooted in the blues and bebop, and his soulfully swinging approach is just one of many reasons why he is so popular. Chicago Tribune states, “Though he spikes his solos with occasional running lines, it’s gently rolled chords and lush sequences of harmonies that ultimately define his work,” and Jazz Times describes him as “an uncommonly sensitive interpreter of ballads.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets

CARMEN LUNDY
2024-05-24 17:00 - 2024-05-26 23:00 (America/New_York) | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
“Musicians as diversely gifted as Carmen Lundy, who has excelled as a vocalist, composer, lyricist, arranger, and pianist for more than three decades, remain far and few between.” – Jazz Times
Carmen Lundy: vocals | Julius Rodriguez: piano & keys | Ben Williams: acoustic & electric bass | Terreon Gully [drums | Andrew Renfroe: guitar
Two-time Grammy® Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album singer and composer, Carmen Lundy, has been making her mark in New York City’s jazz scene since 1978. Her debut album, “Good Morning Kiss” dominated the Billboard chart for 23 weeks.. Beyond her solo success, Carmen contributed to Grammy®-winning projects, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz, and is a prolific composer with over 150 published songs. Recognized by the Jazz Times and The New York Times, Carmen Lundy’s legacy is one that transcends genres, spanning music, acting, and mixed media art.
Carmen Lundy began her professional career as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Three decades later, Ms. Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation.
***Fees Apply To All Tickets

NICHOLAS PAYTON TRIO
2024-05-29 19:00 - 2024-06-02 23:59 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Nicholas Payton – trumpet, piano & keyboards | Peter Washington – bass | Kenny Washington – drums

“Payton’s genius virtuosity captivated both faithful fans and anyone in the NPR crowd just discovering his music for the first time. – NPR
Multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton reunites the trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington that recorded his acclaimed Smoke live album Live Relaxin’ with Nick. A multi-instrumental virtuoso from New Orleans, Payton is a master trumpeter (and pianist) who brings insight, inspiration, and passion to a wide spectrum of Black American Music. Over the years, he has recorded and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Doc Cheatham, and Joe Henderson, among many others, and is widely considered one of the most important artists of our time.
In a review, the Chicago Tribune states, “No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton’s solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets

HOWARD LEVY 4
2024-05-31 20:00 - 2024-06-01 23:59 (America/Chicago) | Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Howard Levy, two- time Grammy Award Winner for Pop Music Performance and Instrumental Composition, is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, educator and producer. At the age of 19, he discovered how to play the diatonic harmonica as a fully chromatic instrument by developing techniques on it that had never existed before. This enabled Howard to take the harmonica out of its usual role as a Folk and Blues instrument, and into the worlds of Jazz, Classical, Middle Eastern music, and more. His discovery unlocked infinite possibilities for the harmonica world.
Howard Levy – piano, harmonica
Chris Siebold – guitar
Joshua Ramos – bass
Luis Ewerling – drums

ROBERT GLASPER
2024-06-04 18:30 - 2024-06-07 23:00 (America/New_York) | City Winery Atlanta, Ponce City Market, 650 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30308, United States
Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts 5 Grammy wins and 11 nominations across 11 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary “13th” with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!”. His work and accolades bridge all aspects of the music business, from live touring to film scoring, composing and producing.
The ongoing Black Radio series has since become Glasper’s calling card, upholding a place at the heart of a trailblazing community: from long-time sonic brothers Mos Def and Bilal, to legends including Ledisi, Lupe Fiasco, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. Glasper is an artist at the heart of a moment – and a movement – to champion Black music, Black people, and the possibility of a better future.
Unfortunately, for those of you who didn’t get tickets early, all of his performances are sold out, however you can add your name to the waiting list, just in case someone cancels.

BILL CHARLAP TRIO
2024-06-14 19:00 - 2024-06-15 23:00 (America/New_York) | Jazz Forum Arts, 1 Dixon Lane, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, United States
The Bill Charlap Trio – with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington – is a jazz super-group with three brilliant, accomplished talents. Their dazzling interplay and near-telepathic communication ranks among the best ever, resulting in a Grammy Award and multiple nominations, five-star album reviews and raves from audiences everywhere. The New Yorker called their latest album Street of Dreams “a zesty program of superbly played standards.” There may be no better jazz trio in the world.

ETIENNE CHARLES CREOLE ORCHESTRA
2024-06-14 19:00 - 2024-06-16 22:30 (America/New_York) | Dizzy’s Club, 10 Columbus Circle, New York City, NY, 10019, United States
Last season, trumpet master, inexhaustible band leader, and fashion icon Etienne Charles lit up The House of Swing with his Appel Room performance of Carnival: The Sound of a People. Now, he returns to Dizzy’s Club leading his Creole-inflected big band featuring master practitioners from across the globe. Expect a spirited set of new music designed to pull every listener of every generation from their seat to their feet.
The Orchestra
Etienne Charles, music director/trumpet
Nathaniel Williford, Austin Muthyala, trumpet
Anthony Hervey, trumpet (6/15 and 6/16)
Summer Camargo, trumpet 6/15 and 6/16)
Trunino Lowe, trumpet (6/14 only)
Geoffrey Gallante (6/14 only)
Sam Keedy, Rashaan Salaam, Gina Benalcazar-Lopez, trombone
Rob Edwards, trombone (6/14 only)
Dion Tucker, trombone (6/15 and 6/16)
Godwin Louis, Jordan Pettay, alto saxophone
John Ellis, tenor saxophone
Joseph Herbst, tenor saxophone, libriarian
Paul Nedzela, baritone saxophone
Alex Wintz, guitar
Andre White, steel pan
Axel Tosca, piano
Brandon Rose, bass, vocals
Harvel Nakundi, drums
Dennis Collins, vocals (6/16 only)
Katie Oberhotlzer, vocals (6/16 only)

ERIC SCOTT REED & GENERATION X, Y & Z
2024-06-14 19:00 - 2024-06-16 23:59 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Giveton Gellin – trumpet | Jon Beshay – tenor saxophone | Eric Reed – piano | Nick Joz – bass | Ethan Kogan – drums

Pianist Eric Reed leads this exciting quintet–Generation X, Y, and Z. His latest album, Black, Brown, and Blue, celebrates the rich and diverse music of composers of color. Reed calls the work a personal milestone and “the culmination of my life thus far. I’m freer than I’ve ever been in my personal life, and I’m freer than I’ve ever been in my music. I’m accepting who I am. I love who I am. And as I continue to evolve – my artistry, my sexuality, and my overall humanity – my music will continue to become more and more personal.” A widely respected and popular musician and mentor, Reed first rose to fame with Wynton Marsalis and has performed with artists as varied as Jessye Norman, Quincy Jones, and Patti Labelle. His perpetually swinging and sophisticated style has made him one of the important ambassadors of the music.

“Eric Reed has fully established himself in the forefront of jazz pianists.” – All About Jazz

*PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows

KRANTZ CARLOCK LEFEBVRE
2024-06-15 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA, 30005, United States
KCL, the iconic, genre-bending powerhouse trio led by visionary guitaristWayne Krantz and featuring drummer Keith Carlock(Steely Dan, Sting, John Mayer) and bassist Tim Lefebvre (Tedeschi Trucks Band,David Bowie), held a Thursday-night residency at NYC’s 55 Bar throughout the first decade of the new millenium. Cutting live recordings from the club and posting them online in the early days of the internet and touring only sporadically, KCL developed a thoroughly original style of interactive group improvisation inspired in part by the great Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s, but played out in spontaneously generated contexts of heavy funk, rock and electronica instead of straight-ahead swing.
As other instrumental bands of the day dabbled in derivative fusion and retro-jazz, KCL became an underground phenomenon, cultivating an international following of devoted fans of every stripe looking for an alternative creative music that served the mind, body and spirit. Relentlessly grooving, always innovative, never complacent -KCL made contemporary music that resonated beyond category.Other sideman obligations sidelined the band soon after their Abstract Logix release, “Krantz Carlock Lefebvre,” in 2010, but their reputation continued to expand globally through fan circulation of the band’s many live videos and recordings. Now, in 2020, KCL re-ignites to tour with incendiary shows throughout the USA, Europe and Asia.

LE TRIO JOUBRAN
2024-06-15 20:00 - 22:00 (Europe/Zurich) | Volkshaus, Stauffacherstrasse 60, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland
Three brothers descending from a family of «Oud» makers and players for four generations: the great-grand-father, the grand-father, the father, and now, Samir, Wissam, and Adnan from Nazareth have transformed the instrument into a passion, a skill, a life story.
Gifted with extraordinary talents and a love for their music, the brothers profoundly understand how to blend the traditional maqams – the melodic, modal traditions of Arabic classical music – with contemporary jazz, blues, and rock.
The Oud progressions in their songs take their audiences on a captivating journey: the melodies are accompanied by additional percussion techniques we usually know from flamenco virtuosos, gradually increasing their audiences’ heartbeat, the result is as hypnotic as it is transformative.
This is an Echoes Of Peace Charity Event

BETTY SHIRLEY & THE WILL THOMPSON TRIO
2024-06-17 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116, United States
Betty Shirley – vocals | Will Thompson – piano | Mark Kravanick – bass | Simon Lott – drums
Longtime New Orleans jazz vocalist, visual artist and educator Betty Shirley has come full circle in her life and is now reaping the benefits of her hard-earned endeavors. The Times-Picayune declares Shirley’s a voice that should be heard round the world.
Tonight, Ms. Shirley presents one of her acclaimed concerts in Tribute to Bessie Smith and Nina Simone, alongside some beloved jazz, blues and juke joint favorites. Arranger of the material for tonight’s show is her musical director, pianist Will Thompson.

Shows at 7:30 & 9:30pm
Doors at 7:00pm & 9:00pm

KEYON HARROLD
2024-06-19 18:30 - 2024-06-23 23:00 (America/Chicago) | Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63103, United States
Jazz St. Louis Creative Advisor and Ferguson native Keyon Harrold returns home to present his brand new commission to close our ’23/24 Season! This season grand finale will see the illustrious musician debut Jazz St. Louis’ much-anticipated, first-ever solo-commissioned work, written to reflect Keyon’s experiences during his momentous three-year appointment with Jazz St. Louis. Do not miss Harrold take the stage to share with the world a new work that promises to be unique and thoughtful.
Harrold grew up one of sixteen children in a family that prioritized music and community across generations. His grandfather was a police officer who retired to found a drum and bugle corps for local youth, both of his parents were pastors, and nearly all of his siblings sing and perform music to this day. At eighteen, the McCluer High School alum left Ferguson for New York City to enroll in The New School. In New York, he landed his first major gig with Common, an audition he secured on the recommendation of his New School classmate Robert Glasper, and an experience which he says broadened his musical horizons beyond jazz to include funk, Afrobeat, R&B, and hip hop. Harrold was soon performing with stars like Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Mac Miller, Rihanna, Eminem, Maxwell, Anthony Hamilton, and Chaka Khan.
Harrold has been key in advancing community engagement and broadening our organization’s audience of ardent jazz appreciators. Whether Jazz St. Louis patrons are harmonizing to a soothing rendition of the Bee Gees tune “How Deep Is Your Love” live with PJ Morton, or soaring with inspiration from a Whitaker Jazz Speaks exploration of how hip hop radiated from an iconic disco sample, many indelible memories are being made during Harrold’s extraordinary tenure. This boundary-expanding partnership and commissioned work is all made possible with gracious support from the Mellon Foundation.

LOUIS HAYES & THE CANNONBALL LEGACY BAND
2024-06-19 19:00 - 2024-06-23 23:59 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet | Vincent Herring – alto saxophone | Rick Germanson – piano | Kenny Davis – bass | Louis Hayes – drums

Living legend Louis Hayes returns with the incredible Cannonball Legacy Band with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, also saxophonist Vincent Herring, pianist Rick Germanson, and bassist Kenny Davis. “Hayes’ drumming is as superb and as youthful as ever.” writes All About Jazz. Born and raised in Detroit, Hayes moved to New York in 1956 to replace Arthur Taylor in the Horace Silver Quintet; he recorded five classic Blue Note albums with Silver before joining Cannonball Adderley in 1959 for an equally momentous six-year stint. The drummer’s remarkable career also includes extended stays with the legendary trios of Oscar Peterson and McCoy Tyner and, more recently, with this esteemed group, the Cannonball Legacy Band, which he co-founded.

“Drummer Louis Hayes elevates the music from within, using finesse and hip nuance rather than playing on top of it with overt chops.” – JazzTimes

*PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows

ROSINA BULLEN
2024-06-19 21:15 - 23:00 (Europe/London) | Spicejazz Soho, 6 Moor Street, London, England, W1D 5NA, United Kingdom
Rosina Bullen – Voice | Evan Main – Piano | Nick Pennington – Guitar | Mathias Jensen – Bass | Angus Mason – Drums
UK born, Brooklyn based artist Rosina Bullen brings her ‘Indie Song Stories’ to London with the UK Release Show of EP ’Trip To Tikal’. The singer-songwriter who has forged her own path of Indie Folk/Rock, combining her unmistakable vocal style, deep poetic lyrics and trademark genre-melding sound. Collaborating with the acclaimed producer Hector Castillo, a multi-Grammy award winner, her latest EP, ‘Trip To Tikal,’ showcases her evolving artistry. This June Rosina is bringing her New York-based band to Crazy Coqs, London as a part of their UK release tour presented by Spice Jazz.
Having trained in Jazz in both London and New York her rich Jazz education has influenced her song writing in the way that she approaches harmony, melody and rhythm. Rosina released her debut EP ‘Painting A Picture’ to rave reviews in December 2022. The music sits at a rich intersection between folk, jazz and indie rock exploring topics of grief, love and empowerment with themes of story-telling, finding oneself, having your heart broken and learning to heal.
“The gorgeous warmth of Rosina’s vocals fly and fluber across the track playfully reminiscent of Joni Mitchell.” — RGM Press
“It is an impassioned and slightly nostalgic ending to the EP, bringing us into the musical world of Rosina Bullen, an exciEng place to be.” — Jazz In Europe, Women In Jazz Media
Note: Spice Jazz Soho: Presents at Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel, 21 Sherwood Street, London, UK

JOE FARNSWORTH
2024-06-20 17:00 - 2024-06-23 22:30 (America/New_York) | Dizzy’s Club, 10 Columbus Circle, New York City, NY, 10019, United States
A true mentor who leadsby example, drummer and composer Joe Farnsworth brings his intergenerational ensemble to Dizzy’s Club. Over four nights, the award-winning artist’s Time to Swing Quintet presents a high-octane program of blistering solos, dynamic ballads, and joyful spontaneity at its highest level. Don’tmiss this special performance that features three generations of master artists.
Joe Farnsworth, drums
Sean Jones, trumpet (6/20, 6/22, 6/23)
Sarah Hanahan, alto saxophone (6/21, 6/22, 6/23)
Caelen Cardello, piano (6/20 only)
Emmet Cohen, piano (6/21, 6/22, 6/23)
Yashushi Nakamura, bass (6/20, 6/22 & 6/23)
Peter Washington, bass (6/21 only)
Dizzy’s Club requires a minimum food and/or beverage purchase of $21 per person.

CHIEF ADJUAH
2024-06-20 20:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, 94607, United States
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) is a two-time Edison Award-winning, six-time Grammy Award-nominated, Doris Duke Award in the Arts awardee. He is a sonic architect, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, designer of innovative technologies and musical instruments (including The Stretch Music app, Adjuah Trumpet, Siren, Sirenette, Chief Adjuah’s Bow and Chief Adjuah’s N’Goni). He is also the founder and CEO of the Stretch Music App and Recording Company. Adjuah is Chieftain and Oba of the Xodokan Nation as well as the current Grand Griot of New Orleans. He is the grandson of Louisiana luminary and legend, the late Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr., Guardians Institute founder and Grand Griot, Herreast Harrison. And is the nephew of Jazz innovator and NEA Jazz Master saxophonist-composer, Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. Adjuah (and his twin brother Kiel) joined his grandfather’s Guardians of the Flame banner in 1989 at the age 5.
Since 2001, Adjuah has released thirteen critically acclaimed studio recordings, four live albums, and one greatest hits collection. He is widely recognized as the progenitor of the “Stretch Music,” style. A 21st-century approach that asserts genre blindness and an ethnomusicological approach to limitless fusion that heralded NPR to hail him as “Ushering in a new era of Jazz” and JazzTimes Magazine to mark him as “Jazz’s young style God.” and “the architect of a commercially viable fusion”. He has collaborated with a number of notable artists, including Prince, Thom Yorke, McCoy Tyner, Marcus Miller, Flea, Eddie Palmieri, Robert Glasper, rappers Mos Def (Yasin Bey), Talib Kweli, as well as heralded poet and musician Saul Williams. Adjuah scores music for his identical twin brother’s, writer/director and visual artist Kiel Adrian Scott, filmic works. Scott is a Directors Guild of America Award recipient whose works have been honored with The Peabody Award and an NAACP Image Award.

BENITO GONZALEZ, BUSTER WILLIAMS, LENNY WHITE
2024-06-21 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The Side Door, Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Benito Gonzalez – Piano | Buster Williams – Bass | Lenny White – Drums
Pianist Benito Gonzalez “Two times Grammy nominee”is an internationally beloved artist who combines a long lineage of American jazz traditions with rhythms from around the world. He’s worked with dozens of the greats, and he always brings some of the best rhythm section players in the world.
Today a rising tide of young jazz pianists are attempting to find their distinct voices by taking cues from their elders. But only a few take their artistry beyond their predecessors to make bold 88-key statements on their journeys to new vistas, fresh sounds, inspired expressions. That personal-touch devotion to the wonders of the instrument brings with it a certitude of intuitive creativity.
That fortitude fuels Benito Gonzalez, an exhilarating pianist who won the 2005 Great America Jazz Piano Competition and was honored in 2020 to be a Steinway & Sons artist for “his sound [that] is recognizable for the powerful rhythm section and Afro-Latin patterns he prioritizes across his projects.” The Venezuela-born, New York-based artist grew up playing traditional Venezuelan folk music with his family before absorbing the inventiveness of such pianists as Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner,Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett who inspired him to join in the explorations on the instrument.
Gonzalez made his way to U.S. by a serendipitous route when an American cultural ambassador caught one of his trio gigs and later invited him to come to Washington, D.C. He was enlisted to play shows with Ghanaian master drummer Okyerema Asante that led to a recording. “After my first six months here, I decided to stay in this country to learn the music right,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez went on to play with Jackie McLean in 2003, then joined Kenny Garrett’s quartet for seven years until 2013—during which time he garnered two Grammy band nominations. After his stint with Garrett, he played with saxophonist Azar Lawrence’s band and then in 2019 joined saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders as his pianist/musical director.
Through the course of his career, Gonzalez has been instrumental as a sideman in performing and recording with such jazz greats as Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Liebman, Gary Bartz, Curtis Fuller, Al Foster, Lenny White, Billy Hart, Ignacio Berroa, Jeff”Tain”Watts, Buster Williams, Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Delfeayo Marsalis, Hamiet Bluiett, Ron Blake, Antonio Sanchez, Mark Gross, and Azar Lawrence.
Gonzalez also recorded his own albums, including Starting Point (2004) and Circles (2010), then continued his solo career with Dream Rhapsody (2015) with Slavic flutist/vocalist Sisa Michalidesová, and a loving tribute to McCoy Tyner Passion Reverence Transcendence (2018).
With propulsive pulse and Afro-Latin percussive drive, Gonzalez placed rhythm at the core of 2021’s Sing to the World, his fifth album and first released on the St. Petersburg, Russia label Rainy Days Records. He assembled an impressive team of collaborators, including Christian McBride, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Nicholas Payton as well as rising stars Russian drummer Sasha Mashin, trumpeter Josh Evans.
In addition to his slow-to-upbeat originals, Gonzalez added to the set list two compositions that had never been recorded by their composers: Roy Hargrove’s soulful “Father” and the “Tain” beauty “416.” After almost seven years of touring with Kenny Garrett, Benito has added numerous festivals and international jazz club dates to his credit. In 2019 he joined legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders as pianist and musical director.

HOUSTON PERSON
2024-06-21 19:00 - 2024-06-22 23:00 (America/New_York) | Jazz Forum Arts, 1 Dixon Lane, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, United States
He remains the King of the Boss Tenor Sax and nothing, it seems, can stop Houston Person, now in his sixth decade of performing. His latest recording (he’s released over 85 of them), as featured guest on Emmet Cohen’s Masters Series Vol. 5, has rocketed up the Jazz Week charts. In its 4-star review, AllAboutJazz.com applauds Houston’s “master’s flair for swing and blues.” A great friend of The Jazz Forum, Houston is a master’s master.
The tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the “Eubie Blake Jazz Award” in 1982.

JERRY BERGONZI
2024-06-22 20:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | The Side Door, Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Jerry Bergonzi – Saxophone | Phil Grenadier – Trumpet | Sheryl Bailey – Guitar | Harvie S – Bass | Luther Gray – Drums
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi’s music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Bergonzi became interested in music early on. He started playing clarinet when he was eight years old listening to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Lester Young. His uncle, who was a jazz musician and lived upstairs, used to write out solos for him to play. At twelve years old he got his first saxophone, an old Conn alto, and a year later when a friend introduced him to Miles, Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins, there was no turning back! At thirteen, Jerry was already playing gigs with a band called The Stardusters. During his high school years he switched to tenor, and in addition to weekly sessions with Berklee College students, Jerry also played in John LaPorta’s youth band. He recalls, “It was a great experience, I learned so much, John would tell you like it was. He’d let you know what your shortcomings were, he would stop the band to tell you! “Bergonzi attended Lowell University but left after one year because he was continually being thrown out of the practice rooms for playing jazz. “If I had heard me practicing in one of those cubicles I might have thrown myself out!” he adds. He and fellow student, Charlie Banacos, used to begin their day in the practice rooms at 6:00 am. After a year at Berklee College, he returned to Lowell for financial reasons and graduated in 1971. He then played bass in local bands behind singers, strippers, and comedians, saving up enough money to move to New York City in 1972.
During 1972 and 1978 Bergonzi lived in New York City and experienced what he considers his real college education. There, where he had a third floor loft and friend and bass player, Rick Kilburn, lived on the first floor, was the scene of many sessions. “Often, there was one drummer, one bass player, and five saxophone players!” Bergonzi remembers. “Sometimes I was the drummer, each guy would tell a friend, everyone was hungry to play and it was great experience.” Joe Lovano, Steve Slagle, Billy Drewes, Paul Moen, Pat LaBarbera, Dave Liebman, John Scofield. Mike Brecker, Bob Berg, Tom Harrell, Steve Grossman, and Victor Lewis were a few of the many players who came to play.

LORI WILLIAMS
2024-06-23 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | City Winery Atlanta, Ponce City Market, 650 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30308, United States
Acclaimed international Jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, music educator, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, radio host, business owner of PositiveMusicPM.org, and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performance at music festivals have taken her to Europe to perform in Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Ukraine, Japan, The Caribbean in Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and across the USA. Her vocal jazz artist residencies have allowed her to work with and mentor students on college campuses in the United States and abroad.
As a veteran vocal music educator and private vocal coach, Lori’s received many honors for her contributions to the arts, including recognition from President Biden. With a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, she hosts a weekly radio program and produces/host events at St. James Live! Jazz club in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the years, Lori has collaborated with a multitude of notable artists and has released multiple CDs, along with singles like “Too Late (It’s My Time)” and “Take My Wings.”

NEAL CAINE QUARTET
2024-06-24 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Snug Harbor, 626 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116, United States
Neal ‘Sugar’ Caine, has been one of New York’s premier jazz bassists for the last two decades. As a musician, he’s buoyant yet foundational, melodic, and endlessly swinging. As a band leader, he’s commanding, thoughtful, and charismatic. Over the years, he has been a trusted creative presence for such international stars as Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr, Betty Carter, Elvin Jones, Benny Green, Jon Batiste, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, and Samara Joy. Caine has played iconic venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Sydney Opera House, and major jazz festivals from Newport Jazz Festival to Montreaux.
As well as working on Broadway, (How to Succeed in Business, Pajama Game, and On a Clear Day) and in film and television, composing for the movies (The Opening Act, The Amazing Johnathan, and The Last Late Night with Steve Byrne) And playing on TV shows (Treme, Marvellous Mrs Maisel, and Shmigadoon!)
He also has been an adjunct professor at The New School for Social Research and the University of New Orleans, and taught at various other institutions.

RAVI COLTRANE
2024-06-25 19:00 - 2024-06-29 23:59 (America/New_York) | Birdland, 315 W 44th Street, #5402, New York City, NY, 10036, United States
Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed Grammy™ nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. In the course of a twenty plus year career, Mr. Coltrane has worked as a sideman to many, recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others and founded a prominent independent record label, RKM.
Born in Long Island, the second son of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, Ravi was named after Indian sitar legend Ravi Shankar. He was raised in Los Angeles where his family moved after his father’s death in 1967. His mother, Alice Coltrane, was a significant influence on Ravi and it was he who encouraged Alice to return to performance and the recording studio after a long absence. Subsequently, Ravi produced and played on Alice Coltrane’s powerful, ‘Translinear Light’, which was released in 2004.
Additional credits include performances as well as recordings with Elvin Jones, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Baron, Steve Coleman, McCoy Tyner, Jack DeJohnette, Matt Garrison, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Geri Allen, Joanne Brackeem, The Blue Note 7, among others. He is a co-leader of the Saxophone Summit with Joe Lovano and Dave Liebman.
Ravi lives in Brooklyn, NY and maintains a fast paced touring, recording, composing and performance schedule. He leads the effort to restore the John Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, Long Island, thecoltranehome.org, and presides over important reissues of his parent’s recordings.
The Quartet
Ravi Coltrane: saxophones
David Virelles: piano
Dezron Douglas: bass
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts: drums

LEZLIE HARRISON QUINTET
2024-06-26 19:00 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Lezlie Harrison – vocals | Antoine Drye – trumpet | John DiMartino– piano | Yoshi Waki – bass | Russell Carter – drums

Vocalist Lezlie Harrison, whose burnished, soulful alto strikingly illuminates a distinctive repertoire, including reimagined 70s soul classics and her original compositions leads a stellar quintet with trumpeter Antoine Drye, pianist John Di Martino, bassist Yoshi Waki, and drummer Russell Carter. A Smoke favorite, Harrison and her quintet always deliver memorable sets and take their audiences on thrilling musical adventures.

“Lezlie Harrison has a smoky, sensuous voice that keeps you on the edge of your chair.” – The New York Amsterdam News

*PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows

LAURA IMPALLOMENI QUINTET
2024-06-26 21:15 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Spicejazz Soho, 6 Moor Street, London, England, W1D 5NA, United Kingdom
Flo Redmonds: Tenor Saxophone | Sam Jones: Drums | James Beckwith: Keyboard/Piano | Ezekiel Ajie: Electric bass | Laura Impallomeni: Trombone
Laura Chiara Impallomeni is British Italian jazz musician, trombonist, composer and band leader. She brings the trombone to the fore, with an exciting collection of her original contemporary jazz compositions. These are collaboratively brought to life by some of the UK’s most formidable jazz musicians. Her music encapsulates her broad range of influences from hints of hard bop to Ethio jazz, whilst rhymically exploring odd meters to bass-heavy grooves.
In November 2022, she debuted some of these compositions at London Jazz Festival 2022 in a sold out performance. She went on to share her full body of work at the Royal Albert Hall in January this year and has just been awarded the “Record and Release’ grant from Help Musicians, to release her debut contemporary jazz album later this year.
She is also the musical director, co-composer and trombonist of an original 11-piece afro jazz band ‘Yamäya’, who performed on the Supreme Standards stage at the Love Supreme Festival 2023 after releasing their debut album Senegal on Funkiwala Records last year. Laura has performed and toured with various renowned artists such as First Aid Kit, The Moulettes, Giffords Circus, Janet Kay and Ken Boothe. She is also the trombonist for Rootsgarden Dub Sound System, The Voodoo Love Orchestra and Barnacles. She also works for the London music charity ‘Play for Progress’ as a therapeutic music teacher/workshop leader with young asylum seekers and refugees.
Note: Spice Jazz Soho: Presents at Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel, 21 Sherwood Street, London, UK

STEVE TURRE SEXTET | SANYA RECORD RELEASE
2024-06-27 19:00 - 2024-06-30 23:59 (America/New_York) | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, 2751 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10025, United States
Steve Turre – trombone & shells | Nicholas Payton – trumpet | Ron Blake – saxophones | Christian Sands – piano | Buster Williams – drums | Lenny White – drums

Steve Turre, trombone master and innovating performer on seashells, celebrates the release of his exciting new album, Saynas, which is surprisingly his first live recording in 50 years as a leader. Its title was inspired by the brightly colored robes of the Sanyasi, Hindu monks who have renounced worldly goods and pursuits. It also happens to be Turre’s first recorded composition and first solo on Woody Shaw’s 1975 release The Moontrane. Downbeat says, “Few artists ‘own’ their instrument to the degree that trombonist Steve Turre does. Whether playing the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live house band, or with one of his own units, his voice is distinctive and memorable.” He convenes an impressive and historic sextet for the occasion with music legends bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White, joined by trumpeter Nicholas Payton, saxophonist and SNL band colleague Ron Blake, and pianist Christian Sands.

“The jazz world needs more Steve Turres. A powerful technician with a quick wit, Turre is perhaps the leading trombonist of this generation.” – Rolling Stone

*PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows

THE HEAVY HITTERS
2024-06-28 18:00 - 2024-06-29 23:00 (America/New_York) | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Mike LeDonne piano | Eric Alexander tenor saxophone | Vincent Herring alto saxophone | Sean Jones trumpet | Alexander Claffy bass | Kenny Washington drums
The Heavy Hitters is the eponymous album from a brand-new sextet featuring some of the most established players in the jazz game. The group is led by Mike LeDonne, New York-based bop pianist best known for his sideman work with Milt Jackson and Benny Golson. His partner in crime, Eric Alexander (himself a first-rate soloist working with Harold Mabern amongst others) was his quartet-mate on a well-received series of releases on the Venus label in the mid-2000’s. The two friends came together for this, their first sextet release as leaders, featuring a set composed entirely of originals.
The music is built to tickle your mind, hit you in the heart and get your head swaying back and forth. The Heavy Hitters have been swinging hard their whole lives! It’s a true “Jazz” sound, recorded by some of the greatest jazz musicians of their generation.
“Together, these two ‘Heavy Hitters’ offer us a smokin’ hot production featuring five other heavy-hitters and a product plush with crème de la crème of both musicianship and original compositions.” – Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs
